The first clutch of the season has been an eventful one of course! Still not sure how they will look exactly but I know they will be beautiful. 🙂

Today I saw 4 very well fed babies poking their heads out of their nest as they gather their courage to fledge. Parents Bella & Bronson (BC CFW & Fawn OB BB) are starting to lure them out with low chirps as they try to encourage them to venture out of their cozy home. It’s a happy surprise to see all 4 of their eggs hatched and were tended to so well. Continue reading →

To my surprise and joy this morning, three very loud beggars were squeaking for food, one so loud it overshadowed some of the CFW males’ songs. Everyone in their flight cages craned their necks to try to see the first babies of the season.

They belong to Bronson & Bella (Fawn OB BB & BC CFW), my colony-raised and newer lovelies. It’s been quite the journey bringing these newer pairs into breeding condition, and I’m glad the day is finally here for their first fertile eggs to hatch. I’ll be able to tell in the next few days which will be white and which will be.. otherwise! This is a mixed clutch so the colors will be diverse. I’m excited to see how they will turn out!

Breeder Reviews by Chelsea @ LPBAOften times I will get messages from people asking me where they can find a bird that I don’t have or a mutation I don’t have readily available. I am happy to pass along those people to the best possible options for them based on my experiences with breeders. In the Breeder Review section is where you can read about all of my experiences as a buyer and recommendations to help you in your search to adopt the healthiest and highest of quality feathered friend. All reviews are assigned a general rating with 4 being the highest.

My Review:I found Patty on Craigslist when I first came to the area. After she contacted me to purchase hens I had to sample her services for myself. I was quite a bit wary about her breeding program at first but came to find she is a kind person and a member of the local Cascade Canary Breeder’s Association. She is no longer breeding Zebra Finches but she is still breeding Canaries.

A LOT of people have asked the same question: Can/Should I breed my Finches? I have always had mixed emotions about answering this question from others myself. My first reaction is to shout an excited yes to everyone that asks and welcome them with open arms into the world of breeding. However, I have seen the damage one person can do when hoarding or neglecting Finches and I have learned to be more cautious of people trying to become breeders or supplement their inbred stock. I usually leave the question of whether or not to breed to be answered by the asker, letting people decide for themselves while trying to educate them on just how much responsibility breeding entails when I can.

QUALITY Breeders Welcomed
There are far too few quality Finch breeders presently and there is always room to welcome another or for someone to become well-known for their superior care. This is especially true with every year that passes as long-time breeders retire from keeping Finches. Yet it is not a responsibility to be taken lightly as so many find out.

The difference between quality and craigslist is the difference between a healthy decade of companionship or having dead pets within a year (in some cases). Adopters easily recognize this which is why major pet store chains have phased out a lot of their Finch sections and hobbyist owners with decades of experience are still going strong. Often times even the chain pet stores will blindly buy from craigslist breeders and their inbred or sick stock because they are cheaper than quality stock from certified breeders. I hear all of the time how pet store Finches have died suddenly and this only emphasizes the need for more quality breeders.

“Every Finch Must Go, To Good Home”
Often times people adopt Finches and become so excited with keeping them that they decide to venture into breeding. They always find out just how difficult it can be soon enough and sadly many will then sell or give away all of their Finches altogether. It’s not always fun and easy! Breeding takes years of commitment, knowledge and lots of space, not to mention money for cages and food that need to be bought in advance. All of which need to be gained well before the first egg hatches.

Any breeder must also be able to hand-raise any (and sometimes all!) of the clutches that your birds will lay around the clock for weeks on end until they are weaned. Babies are sometimes abandoned, pushed out of the nest, etc. all of the time (sometimes without any visible reason) and should never be left to die.

Breeder Reviews by Chelsea @ LPBAOften times I will get messages from people asking me where they can find a bird that I don’t have or a mutation I don’t have readily available. I am happy to pass along those people to the best possible options for them based on my experiences with breeders. In the Breeder Review section is where you can read about all of my experiences as a buyer and recommendations to help you in your search to adopt the healthiest and highest of quality feathered friend. All reviews are assigned a general rating with 4 being the highest.

The Urban Finch– Northern Ca.Purchased: OB BB Fawn, BC CFW, FF/Phaeo, Eumo, BF, PenguinAlso Available:Owl, Gouldian and othersPecking?:NoBird Health/Quality: ExcellentCurrent Status: BreedingMy Review:Definitely my favorite breeder thus far! Very personable, knowledgeable and fun to engage in conversation. Her prices are generous to say the least and the quality of her birds, fantastic. I am so happy with my new pairs and I cannot wait to place another order, and another! Her colony-raised pairs produce some very interesting offspring that cover most if not all mutations. She also has some mixed pairs whose young break the stereotypes of what mutations are “supposed” to look like – which is a sign of a talented breeder in my opinion! A wonderful breeder, a nice person and a great experience for me overall. (more pictures to come after the update)Pictures:

Just a small note to everyone – Laraine @ Lady Gouldian Finch has moved to Lady Gouldian. Since she founded LGF, a store at which I have been lucky enough to be a loyal customer for years now, I am dutifully and happily following her and her incredible products. Her prices are better than before which is an added bonus. I have already changed all of the links and information to be LG-specific and will be updating the Pinterest boards as well. Please give her new site a look and enjoy her new sprouting seed mixes. I know I will!

I hope everyone’s holidays have been and will continue to be jolly & fabulous! Inside the aviary here we have been celebrating and eating, eating and also eating. Ham on Christmas, steak on new years and soft food for everyone winged – yummy!

My new Fawn, Orange Breast and Penguin mutations have arrived and are settling in nicely. I was so excited to get them, they are so spectacular! I cannot wait to take pictures of them. For now, here is a quarantine cage candid of a rather handsome Fawn OB BB who has such a unique and lovely song. I’m still developing names for them as I see their personalities shine.

I’ve also recently stumbled across some adorable new toys from Prevue that I will most certainly be buying for all of my cages. They’re just so irresistibly cute! They’re from a set appropriately named “Birdie Decor.” In their own words: “Birdie Décor toys turn your cage into a home for you pet bird.”

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We have moved since January 2015!!

Breeder of Fine Finches

Welcome! My name is Chelsea and I am a hobbyist Finch breeder & avian enthusiast located in Tacoma, WA. I specialize in hand-raising Finches as well as rare Zebra Finch mutations. I also keep a flock of Gouldian Finches, a couple pairs of Society Finches & a very spoiled male Canary. Please enjoy your visit and contact me with any questions.